The modern football Pele: Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the France national team.

He is rated to be one of the best players in the world currently for he is well regarded and known for his clinical finishing, dribbling, strength and explosive speed.

Background

He was born on 20th of December, 1998

(age 21 years). His parent are Wilfred Mbappe and Fayza Mbappe who are both African but settled in France.

The father is a Cameroonian with Nigerian roots, while his mother Fayza Mbappe is an Algerian.

Mbappe is a sensational man whose mastery of skills has taken the trail of the great Brazilian Pele.

He was groomed at AS Bondy where his father managed the club, afterwards he moved to Clairefontaine academy and also had a stint with Chelsea's under 11's team.

However, he eventually settled at AS Monaco where his remarkable career was set in motion.

He was the youngest player to featured for AS Monaco at 16 years of age when he made his debut on the 2nd of December 2015 against Caen.

Astonishingly in his first full season with AS Monaco, he won Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France title in 2016/17 season.

He scored 28 goals and 12 assists in 69 games for AS Monaco.

In the summer of 2017, he became the most expensive teenage player after his loan move to PSG with a mandatory option for a full transfer fee of 180million pounds.

Since he joined PSG, he has scored 102 goals - including 19 in UEFA Champions League - in 141 games

National level

He has been a good addition to the French national team, so far in 34 games he had 13 goals.

He was wonderful at the FIFA World Cup in 2018, as he scored 2 goals and was named the 2018 FIFA World Cup Best Young player and also the 2nd yet teenager to keep a tally of two goals in the world cup amid a goal in the final after Pele had set both records .

Honours 

4 Ligue 1 titles (2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20)

2 Coupe de France (2016/17 and 2019/20)

1 French Cup (2019/20)

2018 FIFA World Cup 

2016 UEFA European Under-19 championship trophy.

3-times Ligue 1 topscorer awards 

2018/19 Ligue 1 player of the year

2018 French Player of the year

The Golden Boy award at 2018 World Cup

2017 Ligue 1 Young player of the year

Can he clinch the Ballon d'Or award in future? 

Fabiyi Ridwan

Sports Writer and Analyst 

The Greatest Superstars of all-time

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are arguably the best footballers of this century.

They have scored a combined 704 league goals during the 2010s - the exact same number Arsenal FC scored in the English Premier League this past decade.

They've shattered countless records in the footballing scenery for years, a combined total of 11 Ballon D'or awards between them isn't enough to sum it all up.

How many people to watch Russia 2018 World Cup

Tobi Adesina

 

According to the final figures from FIFA, over one billion people tuned in to watch the final match of the 2014 edition. A total of 3.2billion people gained access to view the summer competition via in-house tv. The figure is expected to increase by 20% this summer.

Meanwhile, an estimated 280million people stream-live the world cup final from the internet.

This year (2018), it is expected that 4.1billion people will gain access to the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, internet live stream is expected to skyrocket to a staggering 350million views.

Russia 2018: The Super Eagles are coming

Segun Odunayo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the sixth time in her history. After first appearing at the tournament in the United States of America in 1994, France in 1998 and Korea Japan in 2002, Nigeria failed to qualify for Germany 2006 but returned to the most glamorous football competition hosted in Africa (South Africa) for the first time in 2010 and the win against Zambia today books a spot for the most populous black country on earth in Russia next summer. Nigeria becomes the eleventh country to qualify and the first African country to make it to the competition. This is the second time the country will be qualifying for the World Cup with a qualifier to spare after doing same in 1997.

After getting football power houses, Cameroon and Algeria including Zambia in the draws for the tournament, many envisaged a herculean task which may prove difficult to surmount especially knowing that only the top team qualifies.

However, the Super Eagles picked up four points from a double header against African champions Cameroon but have defeated Zambia and Algeria before that. The brilliant display from the Gernot Rohr led team attracted much accolades from far and wide especially after demolishing Cameroon at home and getting a draw away. Knowing fully well that a win today will secure a place at next year's tournament, the team secured three points after Alex Iwobi came off the bench to score the needed goal.

Now, proper preparation must begin in earnest if the team don't just want to complete the numbers in the eastern European country next summer. If Nigeria is to make it beyond its farthest point (the second round) ever, plans must be put in place to ensure that the coaching crew and players are properly prepared for battle against the best footballing countries in the world.

In the meantime, the Nigeria Football Federation led by Amaju Pinnick, the team, coaching crew, fans and Nigerians are general can role out the drums as they celebrate the moment. Congratulations Super Eagles, congratulations NIGERIANS.

Segun Odunayo is a sports analyst and writer with many years experience

World Cup 2018: Egyptian and Gambian to officiate Nigeria's double header against Cameroon

Tobi Adesina

The football governing body, FIFA have released a list of Center referees and assistant to officiate Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers (African series).

Ghead Grisha, an Egyptian referee has been picked by FIFA as the center referee for Super eagle's crucial home encounter with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Uyo, slated for September 1. The 41-year old Egyptian was in center of action in a game that saw Nigeria defeat Zambia 2-1 in Ndola. He will be assisted by Redouane Achik(Morocco), Waleed Ahmed Ali(Sudan), Mahmoud Zakaria(Egypt).

Meanwhile, Bakary Papa Gassama will hold fort in the return leg in Yaounde 3days later. The Gambian referee will be assisted by Jean Claude Birumushashu(Burundi), Aden Marwa Range(Kenya) and Maudo Jallo(Gambia).

Nigeria(6) currently sit top of group B table, four points clear of 2nd, Cameroon(2) while Algeria(1) and Zambia(1) are playing catchup.